CHINA'S first lunar probe satellite Chang'e I has arrived at the Xichang Launch center in Sichuan Province and is expected to be launched sometime this year, the top official from the China National Space Administration said today.

Xichang is one of the three launch centers in China along with Jiuquan in Gansu Province and Taiyuan in Shanxi Province.

This news was revealed today by Sun Laiyan, the chief of the China National Space Administration, during an online chat.

Sun said preparation for the launch is on schedule.

The mission will include shooting three-dimensional pictures of the lunar surface, analyzing its substance and measuring its thickness.

The launch will be open to the public, but only Chinese are allowed to by the 800 yuan (US$106.53) tickets.

The planned launch of Chang'e I will be a milestone event in China's space technology after breakthroughs were made in sending satellites in 1970 and manned spacecraft projects in 2003, the report said.